Insect insulation for foundation structures



July 4, 1939. DUM. MUIRHEAD lNsE'OT lINsULAT 10N FOR FOUNDATION STRUCTURES n l v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug'. 12, 1958 July 4, 1939- D. nfl. MulRHx-:AD A 2,165,192.'

INSECT INSULATION\FOR FOUNDATON STRUCTURES NLM July'4, 1939. D. M. MUIRHEAD l INSECT lIISULATl-.OVN FOR FOUNDATION STRUCTURES 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Aug. l2, 1938 0am di s Patented July 4, 1939 INSECT INSULATION FOR FOUNDATION STRUCTURES Donald M. Muirhead, Duxbury, Mass.

Application August 12, 1938, Serial No. 224,475 'Z Claims. (Cl. 'I2-77) My present invention relates to foundation and building construction. More particularly, it aims to provide improved protection for the wooden portions of buildings against invasion by termites 5 or other crawling and boring insects which gain access from below.

Termites have always been prevalent in various parts of the United States, doing extensive damage. The amount of such damage appears toA be increasing, and is becoming better recognized. In recent years the insects have been appearing further north, attackingbuildings even in the more northerly localities, probably in part because the cellars and other parts of the buildings are kept warmer than formerly. Hence purchasers of and lenders on real estate are to an increasing extent requiring that the buildings be protected against 'termites and such insects. In certain States, for example, the I-IOLC and the FHA specify termite insulation in new construction.

The manner of protection as generally employed heretofore for new building has been to lay a sheet of metal completely across the-foundation, allowing it to project out over any wall surface along which a termite tube is likely to be run. Such protection in a moderately priced house costing say from $8,000to $10,000 involves a sheet metal contractors job of approximately $150 and increases the costs of the general building contractor by say A$50, totaling about $200. A similar house not originally equipped with termite insulation such as referred to would require the expenditure of roughly $750 to provide it with the same protection. Less satisfactory methods of vprotection might be resorted to, involving the use of chemicals, with somewhat less expense, but such form of protection is not sure and would not lbe lasting.

Accordingly 'it is a main object of my'present invention to provide that building foundations and associated basal parts of buidings may be,

55 initially prepared for later incorporation of ade- Throughout the United States, and especially quate termite protection, at relatively small cost, and that similarly the protection or` metallic shielding may originally be built in complete where such course seems" advisable, either throughout the foundation or at thosey portions which afford the most likely points of entrance for termites or which are not, readily accessible for the later installation of the protection, as for y example the wall sections below porches, terraces and the like. 10 In the drawings illustrating by way of example y various structural forms embodying the invention and by which theI latter may b'e practiced,

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a section of. a foundation wall and immediately overlying Wood `1li parts of a building constructed in accordance with one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a socket or receiver element and associated fastener member;

Fig. 3 shows in perspective a short length of the insect-impervious insulating strip or shield;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sections of an vupper p0r' tionl of a foundation wall illustrating several stages in its construction, in accordance with one formof the invention, Fig. 4 representing an yinitial stage, Fig 5 showing the wall with insulation receiving means installed and Fig. 6 Aillustrating the wall with incorporatedl insulation, whether applied as a nal step of the initial construction or at some later. time; 1

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but illustrating an embodiment of the invention inv connection with a masonry wall; l Fig. 8 shows further means, also illustrative of the invention, either for initial or for subsequent use, at wall sections adjoining a porch, terrace, i approach steps or'llke locality at which thecutside fill comes substantially to the top of the foundation wall. l

Referring to the drawings in more particular, I have represented by way of example in Fig. 1 a foundation wall I0 embodying one form of the invention. The illustration shows a corner section of the wall, in this case of concrete. The wood members for the building are laid on the vfoundation in any preferred or usual manner, Fig. 1 showing for illustrative purposes portions ofthe sill ll, studding l2 and oor joists I3. The view is taken from within the building, looking at the inner face of the foundation.

In accordance with the invention I provide in the construction of the foundation, at the inner. the outer, or any face of the latter, sometimes at a plurality of faces, oneor more substantially continuous channels or grooves l5 extending in a rectly into the wall during its construction, being direction across the likely path, of travel -ofthe insects, -Such channel formation therefore gen-j erally runs in a horizontal'direction, as represented. Itextends into the wall for a depth adequate I for the reception and retention of the insulating means to be described, such depth usually beingapproximately 11/2 to 21/2 inches. As vshown the channel has an inner or substantially verticalwall I6, an upwardly'facing lower wall or shoulder I1 and an opposed downwardly facing or top wall .Im-see alsoFig. 5.

The channel I5 is provided with means for readily fastening in place the metallic or other insect-impervious shield to be described. For this purpose there is distributed along the Wall a series of fastener devices, spaced at suitable intervals, generally about 1 to 2 feet. 'I'hese fastenF er means or devices includes separable male and female parts, one of which elements is fixed in the wall. While. these elements may ,be subsequently installed, they preferably are built dilocated with their outer ends flush with the vertical face I6 of the channel.

In the illustrated embodiment the individual fastening devices comprise receivers or blocl 20,

one of which is shown separately in Fig. 3. These tion with the other gures. This construction for the fastening means as illustrated and described is found preferable to a reverse arrangement wherein the element set in the Wall has a threaded male part adapted to' receive a.nut or like' female part, but such reverse construction may be employed in'some instances. The fastener elements desirably are metal, of a weather-resistant or non-corrosive character, so that they may stand in place unharmed by the weather or otherwise for long periods, perhaps years, inreadiness for use Whenever the need for completing the insect insulation arises.

One exemplary embodiment of a foundation or wall in accordance ,with my 'invention will now be described, with lreference more particularly to Figs. 4'to16 inclusive, as well as Figs. 1 to 3.

Forms for the reception of the wall material are provided in the usual manner, as represented at and 3| in Fig. 4,'these being held in position by uprights, one of which is seen at 32. At

- the inner face of the'form for the face or faces of the wall which are to have the shield-anchoring construction I provide a wood strip or sleeper joist 33, of a cross sectional size and shape'corresponding to that desired for the channel formation. In the illustrated example the top and bottom faces of this strip are inwardly beveled, to form a like-shaped channel from which the sleeper `joist'is subsequently easily removed. A strip having major cross Aldimensions of about 1 x 13A-inches has been found satisfactory'in actual practice, but these dimensions as well asl the shape may be varied to suit the particular circumstances.

The sleeper joist or strip 33 is apertured at suitable intervals to receive the projecting threaded members or bolts 22 of'the fastening means, the apertures in the strip beingcountersunk to receive the beveled bolt heads 23.A The bolts 22 are inserted in the strip prior to fixing the latter to the form and are of adequate length to project through and beyond the strip. For convenience in holding the screws in place-during attachment of the strip to the form the socket elements 2U of the fastener means may first be applied to the projecting yends of the bolts, or this may be done. after attachment of the strip if preferred.

The strip or strips 33 with the inserted bolts 22 are fastened to the forms in a readily removable manner, as by the double-headed form nails 34. The socketed members 20 are then applied to the projecting ends of the bolts,`if knot so mounted before attaching the strip 33 to the form 30.

The forms are. then in readiness for the fabrication of the wall, by the pouring of the concrete n the case of va; concrete wall such as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6. 'I'he wall is continued upwardly so as to embed the fastener devices and the channel-forming strips in the wall material,

and is finished oif at the desired level above the fastening channel. When the concrete has set, or the wall has otherwise beenl completed, the

strip holding nails 34 are withdrawn, and the forms knocked down. The' bolts 22 are then backed out and the channel-forming strip is extracted, leaving the desired channeling formaf tion, with the fastener elements or receivers 2l set fast in the wall, at the back of the channel.v If the insulation proper is not to be installed at this initial or building stage, the bolts desirably are re-inserted and turned down into the sockets of the corresponding receivers 20, protecting the latter and excluding dirt. It will be understood that the vdesired channel at any external face of the foundation or wall maybe produced otherwise than in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6, the method there illustrated being but one convenient manner of effecting the channel formation.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 5, the insulation proper includes a metal or other shield 40 composedv of insect-impervious material suchas a strip-of sheet-metal of substantially'the shape and arrangement illustrated and preferably of a non-corrosive material such as copper, Monel or other alloy. This metal shield element comprises an inner flange or anchoring portion 4I of a formation allowing it to `be received ilatwise against the back face I6 of the channel I5.A Extending from, generally angularly or perpendicularly to, this securing flange is a' substantially horizontal portion 42 of a width suicient to extend outwardly throughthe channel and beyond the wall for a distance of about an inch or more,

this outer angular flange 43 presents a thin eave l like projecting edge. This probably works better when flat and angular, even sharp edged. What is desired is an edge past which it is difficult or impossible for the termites to gain admission to the structure abovethrough their lshelter tubes,

' the construction of which is a feature of their operation.

As' previously indicated, this shield may be installed at the outset, when thebuilding is originally constructed. This is determined by the local'conditions. At some points, such as beneath terraces, porches or steps, such Vinitial installation is advisable in any case, and in certain sections of the country complete initial insulation of the building may be the best practice. But in a large percentage of the total building construction throughout the country as a whole the placing of the shield may be postponed untilactual need arises. In any of these various examples the basic procedure in accordance with my invention is the same, and may be carried out as follows, to give one convenient example:

Theshield strip 40, which may be supplied in any convenient' lengths, is provided with .apertures 44 along its upright securing flange 4I, spaced to correspond to the .positioning of the fastening means 20, 22. This aperturing may conveniently be done at the site of the particular job, as by puncturing or drilling, or standard apertured strips may be supplied. The anchoring portion of the shield strip #Il is inserted into the receiving channel I o f the wall and there fixed by inserting and turning down the bolts 22. As will be noted particularly with reference to Fig. 6, in thus attaching the shield the metal or other material thereof immediately around the bolt apertures is crimped or forced inwardly into the beveled mouths or seats 2B in the receivers or blocks 20 as the bolts are turned home. This provides a tight homogeneous or metal-to-metal seal for the bolt apertures, proof against entrance of termites or the like at such point. This sealing action, due to the described beveled or tapered construction for the bolt heads and their seats in the fastener blocks also makes it unnecessary to match the apertures in the shield to the position of the fasteners with extreme accuracy,

while still insuring a complete circumferential metal dem about the bolts.

The sealing and anchoring of the metal or other shield is then completed by at least partially filling the channel with cement, mortar,`

grouting or thelike 45. The complete installation is represented in Fig. 6. To assist in bonding this filling in place, so that it becomes essentially an integral part of the wall itself, I desirably employ reinforcing or tying means in the channel such as small rods, wires, mesh or the like. In the example illustratedA in Fig. 6 oneor more wires 46 are rst placed in the channel, where they are looped under the heads of the bolts 22 and twisted, bent or otherwise manipulated to anchor them in position, substantially in the manner shown. The vfilling material forced and firmly packed into the channel is thus securely bonded by the described reinforcing. As clearly seen in the selected example of Fig. 6 this material, preferably concrete in the instance of a' concrete wall, completely fills the channel I5 both above and below the shield and aiords a further seal of concretetoc`oncrete, within the wall itself and of substantial extent;-desirably to a minimum of about 2 inches, in addition to the joint between the concrete and the shield strip.

It will be understood that the cementitious or other grouting' or like material 45 need not occupy the entire available space in the channel, the thing desired being a substantially homogeneous or sealing bond along a longitudinal area of the wall material and at least partly in the channel, that is, within the confines of thewall or foundation itself, and so as to block insect passage between the inserted portionof the shielding strip 3 and the adjacent material of the channel. By homogeneous, as applied to the formation referred to, I mean that the material or materials, whatever it or they may be, are alike to the eX- tent that they will cohere in themselves or with each other `without likelihood of leaving spaces or passages accessible for insects such as termites. And in this connection the terms concrete, cementitious, grouting or the like are intended as including any available material that will bond or cohere in the fashion just stated.

As previously explained the provisions for attachment of the shield, or the original complete installation of the latter, may and in most cases will be yat theinterior face of the wall, but in ,variout instances to suit local requirements similar provisionsmay be made at the exterior face, or at both faces, the securing channel being correspondingly located at the inner, vupper or outer face of the wall.

Referring now to Fig. '7, I have there illustrated the invention in connection with a masonry foundation, shown as of the stone type. Parts corresponding to those already described in connection with the previous figures are indicated by similar reference numerals with the exponent a.'

As in the case of a concrete wall, the insulating means may be incorporated at the interior face, as here shown, the exterior face, or both,4 the shield-receiving channel being disposed at any face portion of the Wall so as to present the projecting barrier portion at the 'desired location.

As some distance below the sill level, generally about one foot, the masonry of the Wall Illa is leveled olf. At this leveled portion I then provide a special course 5U of grouting or the like of a solid character free of cracks and crevices. This may be formed by a cement of a fairly rich mixture. forms are provided, having a channelingstrip appropriately located at the inner face of the interior or exterior form as the case may be, this strip temporarily supporting the fastener elements 20a, 22a. similarly as already described. The material of this solid course 50 desirably is In preparation for laying this coursev reinforced by metal mesh, screening or the like such as represented at 5I. With this reinforcement and the shield fasteningmeans in place this special course is poured or otherwise emplaced, the forms and channeling strip subsequently being removed."l.;

If the shieldA is not to be initially installed, the bolts 22a are replaced in the receivers 20a, leaving the channel |5a and the described fastener ele -Y `55 ments in readiness for reception of the shield at su'ch later time as the need arises. In Figfl I have represented the insulation .as having been completed, whether at the time of erecting the wall or later. The shield 40a, which may be the tos.

The special course 50 may be carriedv completely across the Wall, and is so extended in cases where the shielding means is to be incorporated either additionally or alternatively at the exterior face of the wall. If the exterior does not require shielding "and it is desired to leave the outer wall face uniform, for the sake of appearance, the course 50 may be terminated somewhat short of the'outside of the wall and completed at the outer face with the stone or other masonry material harmonizing with the wall as a whole, as 4indicated at 52. The Wall is carried on above the special course 50 to bring it to the desired level for the reception of the sill or other wood memlbers of the building.

Turning now to Fig. 8, I have there illustrated a further embodiment of the invention, with particular reference to the portion of a foundation adjoining a terrace, a brick or stone porch, or the like. Here again parts corresponding to those already described are indicated by the same numerals but having the exponent b.

The main foundation wall is seen at Illb and the outside porch or terrace foundation wall at 60. At the upper portion of said main wall Ib is a channeled course 6|. This may be the integral top section of thev wall as a whole, where the latter is of concrete or may be a finishingcourse of cement,'groutor mortar on the main wall Where the latter is of stone or other masonry work. The fastener receivers or 'socket elements Zlib-may be cast into this top courseV 6I in the manner already described by way of example orzthey may be otherwise installed.

In this rather special case the shielding is somewhat more extensive and is constructed and arranged to extend not only horizontally from but also above the anchoring channel I5b. ,The shield may be made up from a single strip shaped to the `cross sectional form substantially as illustrated, or a plurality of separate strips mayv be employed, two being shown in this instance.

- These include a lower shield strip 63 having an expansion rib or like formation 64 and an attaching flange 65. and an upper strip indicated as a whole by the numeral 66. Said upper shield in the illustrated instance includes an attaching flange 61, and a horizontal portion 68 extending outwardly through the channel '|5b. Its main l portion extends vertically upward and terminates in a lateral iiange 69. These shield elements are fastened in place by tne anchor bolts 22h, the latter affording the similar crimping and sealing for the bolt apertures as previously described.

Following or attendant on attachment of the shield. element as a'whole the channel `Itib is Y sealed adjacent the shield with cement or morntar 10 as in the previous instances. The lower shield 63, whichY may have its outer edge portion turned substantially as represented in Fig. 8, is subsequently embedded in the conf'crete slab 12 which bears on the stone or concrete foundation 60. The wood members for the buildin'g are placed on the foundation in the' yusual manner, va sill Hb, stud |2b and floor joist l3b being` represented in Fig. 8 by'way of example. On the concrete slab -12 the brick, tiling or other material for the iloorof the porch or. terrace is applied, as indicated at 1l. The terminal portion 65 of the upper shield 66 is bent down upon this flooring after the latter has been supplied, the clapboards or shingles 'I4 then being y installed above it.

It will be Anoted that the( described shielding means is`1so located that lt effectively blocks the path of insects approachingfrom below, whether upwardly along the main wall Ib, or along or through the porchorterrace foundation wall 60, or at the level between the latter and the porch or terrace flooring 13. The shield is securely arcanes bonded and tied in place, and is insured again distortion or tearing in case of expansion or coi traction between the concrete slab l2 and tl course 6| of the main foundation wall, by meal of the V-shaped expansion rib.

From the foregoing it will be evident that m invention provides for the insertion and incorpt ration of an insect-impervious shield in th foundation walls of buildings, whether the found datlons be of concrete, stone, brick or othe masonry. In accordance -with the invention suc, incorporation is a planned and integral part c the foundation construction. 'I'he insulation i: and of itself may be completed whenever desir able or necessary, either originally, when th foundation is built, or at some subsequent time The construction is such that .the shield is i1 eectcast or built into and sealed in the wal itself substantially as an integral portion there of, whether at the time of or after erection of thi foundation.

The term concrete as used in the speciflcatior or -claims hereof is intended in its ibroad sensl of a mass of united matter which is plastic a1 some stage, and this term is not employed merely in its more specific sense of an artificial stone composed of sand, stone and cement. Similarly 4also the term cementherein has its broad connotation of any composition or material which in Aone condition such as temperature or degree of moisture is plastic and in another is tenacious; hence the term cement does not'have merely its more spicific meaning of the materials commonly known as Portland cement and natural rock cement.

A primary feature of the invention, as above explained, is the novel formation of an outwardly open elongated recess or channel in and along a foundation surface to be shielded, the channel being so constructed and arranged, when the wall is built or subsequently, as to adapt it for the anchoring reception of a like-extensive shield. 0ther novel features include the separable fasteners adapted to be cast or otherwise -set inor adjacent a face of the channel or which plain concrete or like Yfilling of the channeled zone.

'I'he insulation incorporated as herein disclosed requires no external or other asphaltic or similar seal subject todeterioration from weathe'r effects, since there is no possibility of cracks occurring in the metal-to-metal` and concrete-to-con'crete or other homogeneous sealingv means of my in vention. Nor does it necessitate the use of chemicals or posionous or toxicpreparations intended to repel or destroy the insects. The numerous other advantages flowing from my invention, including particularly the low. cost of installation, whether vcontemporaneous with or subsequent to the original'erection of the foundatiomwill readily beapparent'.

It will be understood that my invention, either as to means or method is not limited to the exen iplaryl embodiments or steps herein illustrated or described, and I set f rth its scope in my following claims. I

I claim: 1. In building construction, in combination, a foundation wall having at a location to be shielded at least an externalhorizontal portion formed of concrete, an outwardly open horizontal chan- -nel formed continuously in an external face oi' l impervious to termites, said strip element becoextensive with said channel and including inner anchoring section and an outer barrier ation, said channel and the anchoring-section the strip element d arranged for the supporting reception of said :tion within the channel in suchl manner as leave a horizontally continuous area of a cony ete face of the channel 'pai'alleling the flange the anchoring section uncovered by the marial of the strip element, fastening means se- ,ring the anchoring section to the wall within e channel, sealing means composed of cemenzious material applied uninterruptedly along the lchoring section of the strip element, directly )on said horizontally continuous concrete area ithin the channel and homogeneously bonding lth said area to provide a positive termite barer between said anchoring section and the adicent concrete of the channel, and said outer arrier section of the strip being disposed to roject freely out from the channel andbeyond 1e face of the wall to such extent and at such ngle thereto that termites will not tube past it. 2. In building construction, in combination, foundation having at a face thereof which is J be shielded against upward passage of insects t least a course portion formed of concrete, aid concrete portion having formed continuousv along an external face tantially horizontal channel, a metallic shieldng strip having one longitudinal side portion nserted into and anchored in said channel in uch manner as to leave accessible a longitudinal rea of concrete within the channel and immeiiately along said inserted strip portion, con-A :rete-forming means applied to the concrete of iaid area within the channel and providing a :oncrete-to-concrete bond sealing the inserted itrip portion against passage by insects between lt and the concrete of the channel, 'and said shielding strip having its other longitudinal sideV portion projecting outwardly from the channel and standing clear beyond the face of the foundation adequately to block upward passage'of insects across it externally of th'e channel.

3. A termite-proof foundation structure com prising, in combination, a foundation at least a course portion of which is formed ofT concrete, a horizontally extensive channel in said concrete portion, a longitudinally extensive metal strip having along one longitudinal portion an attachingl formation of a width less than thecombined widths of the top and back faces of the channel, said attaching formation being inserted inthe channel, fastening means for securing said formation to the foundation within the channel, said strip including also a longitudinally coextensive outer section projecting laterally outwardly from and substantially beyond the channel and foundation so as to stand clear of the latter, and means applied directly to and bonding with the concrete of a face of the channel continuously along the inserted portion of the strip to form a lasting homogeneous structural seal therefor within the confines of the foundation itself.

4. A termite-proof foundation structure comprising, in'combination, a foundation 'at least a course portion of which at the region' to be probeing mutually proportioned an outwardly open subtected is formed of concrete, a horizontal channel in an external face of said concrete portion,

-a barrier strip of a width substantially greater than the depth of the channel, said strip having one longitudinal section inserted and anchored in the channel and its opposite longitu-v dinal section projecting out from the channel and freely beyond the foundation, and cooperating barring means disposed along said inserted strip section within the confines of the channel,

'said means composed of a material forming a homogeneous bond with a concrete 'surface portion ofthe channel; l

5. In building construction, in combination, a

concrete foundation, a horizontally extensive channel at a face of the foundation to be blocked against traversingby insects, fastening means carried in the concrete of the foundation at intervals along the channel and extending inwardly from it, said means comprising a plurality of pairs of separable male and female elements, one element having an annular recess,V and the other a like-formed part adapted to enter the recess, and a longitudinally extensive metal strip having an attaching portion received in the channel and having apertures receiving the male elements of said fastening means, said strip having its material peripherally of said apertures forced into said annular recesses of the recessed elements bythe application thereto of the other elements so as to form a metallic seal for the apertures in the shield.

6. In building construction, in combination, a foundation,.a horizontally extensive channel at a face of the foundation to be blocked against traversing by insects, a multiplicity of separable fastening devices distributed along the channel, each device comprising a base element set into the material of the foundation and a cooperating detachable element, one element'having a male part and the other a corresponding female part, a longitudinally extensive metal strip having an attaching flange inserted in the channel, said flange having apertures through which the male parts of said fastening devices extend, said flange being received between the base elements and the detachable having its apertures metallically sealed thereby, and filling means in the channel further:l anchor-4 ing the metal strip and zone.

7. Means for damming foundations against the passage of. insects along surfaces thereof, said means comprising an elongated strip oi? sheet metal including an erectattaching flange, an intermediate portion and an angularly extending edge remote from the attaching flange, spaced apertures distributed along said attaching flange, and attaching devices for saidlstrip, each comprising a base element to be fixed in a wall and a cooperating detachable element, one element having a portion receivable through the apertures of said attac ng flange and the other being receivable by said portion at the opposite face of the flange, and other 'cooperating formations on said elements of the attaching devices sealing the channeled l elements of said devices and adapted to upset and seal the metal of the strip peripherally of said apertures.

DONALD M. 

